U.S. patent number 4,751,784 [Application Number 07/072,110] was granted by the patent office on 1988-06-21 for disposable slipper and method for forming same.
Invention is credited to Al Petker, Erik Sundgaard.
United States Patent |
4,751,784 |
Petker , et al. |
June 21, 1988 |
Disposable slipper and method for forming same
Abstract
A disposable slipper and method for forming the same comprising
a flat planar piece of a resilient foldable material shaped to
conform to the outline of the foot of a human. A pair of strips
extend outwardly from opposite sides of the slipper at the
intersection of the sole and heel portion thereof. By folding one
of the strips over on top of the other strip, the overlapping strip
adheres to the material of the slipper thereby retaining the
slipper to the foot of the user.
Inventors: |
Petker; Al (Beverly Hills,
CA), Sundgaard; Erik (Houston, TX) |
Family
ID: |
22105637 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/072,110 |
Filed: |
July 10, 1987 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/9R;
36/11.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B
3/106 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A43B
3/10 (20060101); A43B 003/10 (); A43B 003/12 () |
Field of
Search: |
;36/11.5,9R,9A,7.3,7.1R
;428/234,235,300 ;12/142S |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2373243 |
|
Jul 1978 |
|
FR |
|
2460116 |
|
Jan 1981 |
|
FR |
|
2461467 |
|
Feb 1981 |
|
FR |
|
Primary Examiner: Kee Chi; James
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Poms, Smith, Lande & Rose
Claims
We claim:
1. A disposable slip proof slipper comprised of a single piece of
flat planar fibrous material having a central portion in the
outline of a human foot forming a sole and heel interconnected by
an arch and flat extension members lying in the same plane as said
central portion extending outwardly on both sides of said central
portion at generally the intersection of said sole and arch,
releasable securement means associated with said slipper and at
least one of said extension members for releasing securing said
slipper to the foot of a user, said releasable securement means
including a strip of Velcro hook material secured to one of said
extension members adapted to engage and releasably adhere to the
fibrous material of the other of said extension members, said
fibrous material being uniform throughout and of a resin-treated
polyester material having a rough fibrous side and a softer fibrous
side, the rough fiber side being comprised of matted down fibers
and the softer fibrous side being comprised of a plurality of
outwardly extending fibers, one of said extension members being
substantially longer than the other of said extension members.
2. In the slipper of claim 1 wherein said slipper is about 1/4"
thick and said fibers have a density of about 1 ounce per square
foot.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to disposable footwear; and, more
particularly, to a flexible disposable slipper.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Many different types of footwear, such as shoes and slippers, are
known in the art. Generally, such footwear is relatively expensive
but can be reused until it wears out. On some occasions, there is a
need for a disposable inexpensive shoe or slipper. For example,
when traveling light, it is difficult to pack slippers and the
like. Alternatively, one may forget to pack the same and only
discover the omission when at a hotel or the like. There is thus a
need for a disposable inexpensive slipper that can be purchased at
a hotel or the like. Also, in recent years, hotels and the like
have made efforts to offer various amenities to their customers,
such as disposable bathrobes. Disposal complimentary slippers could
be another amenity offered by the hotel. This is particularly
welcome in pool or shower areas where the establishment may be held
liable for someone slipping on a wet surface. A non-skid disposable
slipper might be particularly valuable around gyms, showers, tubs,
pools, spas, health clubs, hospitals, etc., and in or out of the
home. Such a slipper should be inexpensive, disposable, easy to put
on and take off, preferably adaptable to feet of different sizes,
be easily dried and cleaned, if desired. Also, such a disposable
slipper should be inexpensive to manufacture and, thus, convenient
to dispose of.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide an inexpensive and
disposal slipper. It is a further object of this invention to
provide a disposable slipper formed from a blank of resilient
material. It is still further an object of this invention to
provide a disposable slipper that is adaptable to feet of differing
sizes.
It is still another object of this invention to provide a
disposable slipper of anti-bacterial material which can be easily
shaken or squeezed dry when wet.
It is another object of this invention to provide a method for
forming a disposable slipper.
These and other objects are preferably accomplished by providing a
disposable slipper comprising a flat planar piece of a resilient
foldable material shaped to conform to the outline of the foot of a
human. A pair of strips extend outwardly from opposite sides of the
slipper at the intersection of the sole and heel portion thereof.
By folding one of the strips over on top of the other strip, the
overlapping strip may adhere to the overlapped strip or to the
material of the slipper and retain the slipper to the foot of the
user.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a bottom plan view of a disposable slipper for the right
foot in accordance with the teachings of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the slipper of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 3 is a perspective plan view of the slipper of FIGS. 1 and 2
mounted on the foot of a user; and
FIG. 4 is a view taken along lines IV--IV of FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawing, a disposable slipper 10 is
shown having an outline in the general shape of the undersurface of
the foot of a human. Thus, slipper 10 includes a heel portion 11
integral with an instep portion 13 interconnecting heel portion 11
to a sole portion 12. A pair of elongated extension members 14, 15
extend from each side of the area of slipper 10 where the sole
portion 12 meets the instep portion 13. These extension members 14,
15 are chosen of a length so that they can overlap and retain the
slipper 10 to the foot of a wearer as will be discussed. Note that
extension portion 14 is considerably longer than extension portion
15, as for example, 25% longer, and may be narrower at its point of
connecting to the remainder of slipper 10 than extension member 15.
Note also that the radius of curvative where extension portion 14
blends into the right side of the remainder of slipper 10 as shown
in FIG. 2 may be longer than the radius of curvature where
extension portion 15 blends into the remainder of slipper 10.
Preferably, the parts of the entire slipper 10, as heretofore
discussed, are of a single piece of flexible material. Although any
suitable material may be used, the material preferred is a
polyester fiber material which is supplied in bales. The bales are
picked apart and the fiber material is layered back and forth to
form a webbing having a preferred density of about one ounce per
square foot. A needle punch in the form of a board having a
plurality of 4" long barbed needles spaced 1/4" apart is used to
punch through one side of the webbing and the barbs pull or bring
the fibers in the material up and out of the webbing. The webbing
is then mashed down to an overall thickness of about 1/4" or
less.
Any suitable acrylic resin material is now applied to the
mashed-down webbing in any suitable manner, such as by foaming the
same and spraying it in, and the resin-impregnated webbing is
passed through an oven at a temperature of about 350.degree.
F.-400.degree. F. for about 2 to 3 minutes. The heated blank of
material is turned over, resin is again applied, then passed
through the over for about 2 to 3 minutes at about 350.degree.
F.-400.degree. F. The blank of material is again turned over and
passed through the oven, without a resin treatment, again for about
2 to 3 minutes at 350.degree. F.-400.degree. F. The heated blank of
material is now cooled. These final heat-treated resinated blanks
of material can of course be of any suitable dimensions, such as
40" to 84" wide, and are now slit to the desired width.
The foregoing results in a blank of material having a relatively
smooth fibrous side (FIG. 1) and a side with fibers sticking
thereout (the side shown in FIG. 2--see also FIG. 4). The specific
material disclosed herein is available from Western Synthetic Felt
Co. under the trade name Westdeck. Of course, any suitable means
known in the art may be used to form a polyester fibrous material
that has been resinated. The preferred treatment described herein
results in a blank of material, which can be of any desired length
and width, preferably 1/4" or so thick, and shipped in rolls. Such
material has a rough side and a fibrous or smoother side as seen in
FIG. 4.
The blank of material can be now precut to size, such as to the
shape shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. These shapes may vary so as to
accommodate the same feet of different sizes, such as small, medium
and large. Alternatively, precut square of rectangular pieces of
material may be provided to the consumer along with instructions
for cutting the same or may be provided in a variety of sizes. The
preferred material disclosed herein can be easily cut using
conventional scissors. The customer merely places his bare foot on
a blank of material, say 12".times.12", draws an outline of his
foot, and cuts out the outline leaving side tabs 14, 15. Precut
pieces of Velcro strips may be provided, as will be discussed,
either already secured to the precut blank or affixed by the
customer thereto.
The drawings show a slipper for the left foot; a slipper for the
right foot would be a mere mirror image of that show in the
drawing. Thus as seen in FIG. 2, a Velcro strip 17 of a hook
material is provided on extension member 15. When the user steps on
the upper surface of the cut blank as seen in FIG. 2 (the surface
visible in FIG. 2), then folds extension members 14, 15 one over
the other over his or her foot 18 (FIG. 3), the Velcro strip 17
engages the material of the slipper 10 and holds the slipper 10 to
foot 18 until released.
Alternatively, mating Velcro material, such as hook and loop
strips, may be provided on the extension members 14 or 15 to engage
with each other. Preferably, however, the preferred fibrous
material of slipper 10 along is used which would result in
securement. Of course, other releasable fastening means may be
provided but the foregoing is an easily adjustable, releasable and
inexpensive means of securement. One such preferred hook (and loop,
if desired) fastener material is sold by 3M under the trademark
Scotchmate mushroom fastener system. This material has a side which
is secured to the material of slipper 10 by any known process, such
as a hot melt wax process.
The softer side of slipper 10 provides a cushioning material for
the foot and the rougher side 11' in FIGS. 1 and 4 wears better.
The slipper 10 is slip proof and comprised of anti-bacterial
fibers. It is of a non-medicated material, can be easily shaken or
squeezed dry and returns to its original shape. It can be put in a
washing machine and washed and dried but is so inexpensive that it
can be discarded after use. The low cost enables the slipper to be
used as a promotional or free item, such as a handout provided by a
hotel, gym, pool, etc. Use around pools, hospitals, showers, tubs,
baths, in or out of the home, reduces potential for slippage and
prevents lawsuits. There has thus been disclosed an inexpensive
disposal slip proof slipper which may be precut or cut to size.
Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been
disclosed, we do not intend to be bound thereby since variations
may occur to an artisan and the invention should be limited only by
the appended claims.
* * * * *